Piston ring



June 2, 1953 H. P. PHILLIPS. E-rAL PISTON RING Filed Feb. 29, 1952 s? M70/M7 Z Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PISTN RING Harold B. Phillips and Hugo F. Anderson, Hastings, Mich., assignors to Hastings Manufacturing Company, Hastings, Mich.

Application February '29, 1952, seria1No.274,1o8

(Cl. 309h44) 7 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in piston rings.

The main objects of the invention are:

First, to provide a composite piston 'ring which is desirable for use as a compression ring in internal 'combustion engines, which has the advantage of quick and effective wear-in and is very durable and eiiicient in use.

Second, to provide a composite piston ring which includes a cylinder wall contacting element, the cylinder wall contacting surface of which is plated with a wear-resisting material, and at the same time a ring which is eicient during the Vwearing-in period.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is dened and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a piston ring embodying my invention illustrated in assembled relation relative to a piston having a ring' groove therein, and a cylinder wall, no at'- tempt being made to show the parts in proper proportions or their working clearances or toleranc'es.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. l and 3.

Fig. `3 is a side elevational view with a portion of the body member broken away.

Fig. '4 is a cross sectional view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

-is a cross sectional view of a canted type of ring rembodying my invention.

In the accompanying drawing, l represents a cylinder wall, and 2 a piston having a piston ring groove 2 therein. The composite ring of my invention comprises an annular split cast iron body member 4 which is adapted to be re; ceived in a piston ring groove such as the groove 3 of the piston shown in Fig.l l. The body member 4 is provided with a relatively narrow annular peripheral groove `5 which in the em'- bo'diment shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 is axially spaced relative to the sides of the body member providing cylinder wall engaging groove lands 6 at each side of the groove. These lands 6 have 'thread cut faces 1 providing ribbed relatively quick wear-in cylinder 'wall engaging surfaces. The ring element y8 .is preferably 'formed of ribbon steel coiled `edgewifise and is `'provided with a 'curved .peripherai outer edge 9 having chrome plating. Ill thereon.

im The radial depth of lthe ring element 6 is such that when it is seated in the groove its chrome plated cylinder wall engaging face l0 is radially inward or below the pe'ripheries of the quick wear-in wall engaging surfaces 6. It is positioned, however, so that after the initial wear-in of the body member, the ring element 8 constitutes a cylinder wall engaging element. The element 8 having a wear-resisting plating, or being 'of wear-resisting material provides a very durable wear-resisting cylinder wall engaging surface for the ring. The 'cast iron body member is relatively much softer and less Wear-resisting than the element 8. In most conditions the resilience of the cast iron body member is sufficient so 'that expanders are not required, ale

though they may be used if desired. The ele-l ment 3 is preferably arranged to break joint with the body member 4 at the split thereof as is shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 2 where 'the element 3 projects beyond the end of the body member at the split vthereof to Ioverlap the other end.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the body member l2 is provided with two peripheral grooves I3 corresponding to the groove 5, and the lands I 4 between and at the outer sides 'of the grooves are peripherally ribbed. The ring ele ments 8 are the same as described and vare arranged with their peripheries radially Within the 'quick wear-in faces of the body member so as not to impede the quick wear-in and the eiiicien'cy of the 'ring during the wearing-in period.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the body member l5 vis of the canted type, 'there being an annular groove l5 out in the upper side there of which results in a twisting 'cant of the ring, no attempt being made, however, to illustrate the cant which is relatively slight in a commercial rmg.

The body member of 'this embodiment is substantially 'that shown in the Phillips Patent 2,387,855 'df October v3i), 1945. AIn this embodimen-'t the lperipheral groove l1 is disposed diag' n-ally ofthe body Vmember and opens adjacent the lower side thereof. The 'peripheral land It of the body member above 'the groove Il is provided with peripherally extending -ribs Hl preferably of Asection as shownin the other embodiments.

The ring element I9 designated in Fig. 5 has a chrome plated periphery I0, the ring however being dished when inserted lin the groove I'l instead of being at as is shown inthe vother embodiments.

When .the ring elements areformed of ribbonfsteel fas 'fthe 'preferred '.form, they.

may be dished sufficiently to insert them in the inclined diagonally disposed groove.

As stated, no attempt has been made to illustrate the parts in their relative proportions and dimensions or their commercial clearances or tolerances. Piston rings are made in various sizes to meet the requirements of a particular engine, and tolerances and clearances are commonly specified engineering requirements. The grooves or ribs of the body member lands are all exaggerated dimensions. The quick wear-in surfaces may desirably be about .003 in radial depth, and crowns of the ribs may desirably be spaced about .005" apart.

In addition to providing the quick wear-in surfaces for the body member of the ring, the grooves provide lubricant retaining recesses so that eiicient lubrication results during the wearing-in period.

Applicants are aware that thread turned or ribbed surfaces have been utilized on cast iron piston rings to facilitate the wearing-in thereof. However, this is an especially desirable feature in combination with the applicants wear-resisting cylinder wall element of their composite ring as it provides for quick wearing-in and long life, and eicient operation both during and after the wearing-in period.

We have illustrated and described our invention in highly practical embodiments thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which we contemplate for certain uses, as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A composite piston ring comprising an annular split resilient cast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having a relatively narrow annular peripheral groove disposed in axially spaced relation to the sides of the body member providing peripheral lands at the sides of the groove, said peripheral lands having thread out faces providing relatively quick wearin cylinder wall engaging surfaces, and an annular split expandable ring element of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed in said groove in supported relation to the bottom and sides thereof and having a chrome plated peripheral cylinder wall engaging surface initially positioned radially below the said quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surfaces of said body member and so as not to impede the quick wearing in thereof when the ring is installed.

2. A composite piston ring comprising an annular split resilient cast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having a relatively narrow annular peripheral groove disposed in axially spaced relation to the sides of the body member providing peripheral lands at the sides of the groove, said peripheral lands having the faces thereof roughened providing relatively quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surfaces, and an annular split expandable ring element of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed in said groove in supported relation to the bottom thereof and having a chrome plated peripheral cylinder wall engaging surface which is initially radially Within the peripheries of the said quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surfaces of said body member and so as not to impede the quick wearing in thereof when the ring is installed.

3. A composite piston ring comprising an annular split resilient cast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having a relatively narrow annular peripheral groove disposed in axially spaced relation to the sides of the body member providing peripheral lands at the sides of the groove, said peripheral lands having the faces thereof roughened providing relatively quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surfaces, and an annular split expandable ring element of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed in said groove in supportedly seated relation to the bottom thereof and in axially supported relation to the side walls of the groove and having a peripheral cylinder wall engaging surface which is initially substantially spaced radially inward relative to the peripheries of the said quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surfaces of said body member and so as not to impede the quick wearing in thereof when the ring is installed.

4. A composite piston ring comprising an annular split resilient cast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having a relatively narrow annular perpineral groove disposed to provide at least one peripheral land at the side of the groove, said peripheral land having a roughened face providing a relatively quick wear-in cylinder wall engaging surface, and an annular split expandable wear resisting ring element disposed in said groove in supported relation to the bottom and sides thereof and having a chrome plated peripheral cylinder wall engag-v engaging surface of said body member so that if does not impede the quick Wearing in thereof when the ring is installed.

5. A composite piston ring comprising an annular split expansible ycast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having relatively narrow annular peripheral grooves, the peripheral face of the body member at one side of the groove having relatively narrow peripherally extending ribs providing a relatively quick cylinder wall engaging wear-in surface, and an annular split expandable ring element disposed in said groove in supportedly seated relation to the bottom thereof and having a near resisting peripheral cylinder wall engaging surface initially positioned in substantially radially inwardly spaced relation to the periphery of the said quick wear-in surface of said body member so as not to impede the wearing in thereof when the ring is installed but which constitutes a cylinder wall engaging element after such wearing in has ocexpandable ring elements disposed in said grooves.'

in supported relation to the walls thereof and having Wear-resisting peripheral cylinder Wall engaging surfaces initially positioned radially inward relative to the said quick Wear-in surfaces of said body member so as not to impede the Wearing-in thereof when the ring is installed but constitute cylinder Wall engaging elements after such wear-in has occurred.

7. A ycomposite piston ring comprising an annular split canted cast iron body member adapted to be received in a piston ring groove for expansive action therein and having relatively narrow annular diagonally disposed peripheral groove opening adjacent to the lower side of the body member, the peripheral face of the body member above the groove having relatively narrow peripherally extending ribs providing a relatively quick cylinder Wall engaging Wear-in surface, and an axially thin annular expandable ring lelement HAROLD P. PHILLIPS. HUGO F. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 49,834 France May 1, 1939 (Addition to 841,856) 113,886 Sweden Apr. 24, 1945 877,905 France Sept. 21, 1942 

